A welcome and thank you to all the new players who took to the frontlines for the first time over the Steam Summer Sale! As we discussed in our previous blog post, map voting has finally arrived.
One of the community's most highly requested features, map voting, makes its way onto all Holdfast servers this update but that’s not all. New quality of life features are being implemented, new game mechanics introduced and in this same update, the Holdfast SDK is getting an upgrade too.
This update takes us one step closer to letting the community play Holdfast exactly how they want to. Take a read below to find out more about how these changes and additions will achieve this.
Player Map Voting!
The long-awaited map voting update is here! At the end of the round players will be given the option to select the next battlefield to be played and whichever map receives the most votes will then be played thereafter.
At the end of the round players are now presented with 4 battlefields to pick from. The map's gamemode and factions are also shown. Players are then given a period of time to vote on the map they wish to play next after which the results are then tallied and a winner is selected. It is only at this point that the amount of votes each map gets is shown.
Map voting will also be available to community and private servers. We have provided additional rotation inputs so server owners can customise their map voting exactly as they desire. Likewise, support for custom maps has been integrated into the system to ensure any custom maps loaded with the map voting system will correctly display their name.
New Gameplay Mechanics
Someone taking too long in the outhouse? Kick the door in style and let them know their time is up! This new mechanic allows players to kick down doors in dramatic fashion and really make their entrance as they take buildings and forts alike. Additionally, cannoneers with a ramrod equipped will now receive a 5% speed buff when ramming their cannon. So get kicking and ramming till your heart’s content.
Quality Of Life Additions
This update also brings along a plethora of new console commands and player menu options to further aid server administrators running events on community servers.
Server admins can now be added to a whitelist which will automatically grant them administrator privileges as they join the server. They will no longer have to log in via the console. Using the new ‘serverAdmins.txt’ file will enable a whitelist allowing the players inputted in this file to access administrative privileges without having to enter a password.
Admins that are whitelisted will be able to join the server directly should it be full. However, this is limited to a maximum of 5 additional slots dedicated for them. Server admins are also given the option to revive fallen men via the Round Players ‘P’ menu. It will instantly respawn them in the location they died.
In contrast to giving life with the new revive feature, the new slap server admin command gives administrators the ability to damage individual players for an amount of damage they specify. Simply type out the command below to slap someone.
rc serverAdmin slap
Linebattle Stalemates
Linebattle organisers will be able to place a capturable flag that if captured will give the win to the capturing team. This flag can be configured to be spawned after a specific amount of time and act as an anti-camping tool during linebattle events that are taking slightly longer than desired.
Similar to map voting this feature can be configured via rotation inputs. This flag can also be triggered and spawned directly by an rc command. Take a look at these below.
Server Config Commands
● dynamic_capture_point_enabled true/false
● dynamic_capture_point_position -11.90 6.26 -59.10
● dynamic_capture_point_auto_active_time 120
● dynamic_capture_point_capture_duration 360
● dynamic_capture_point_max_capture_player_count 10
RC Commands
● rc set triggerDynamicCapturePoint
We look forward to seeing this new mechanic put to good use during events.
Holdfast SDK V2. Scripting
The latest Holdfast SDK update is the largest update to the SDK since its release. It exposes the ability for the modding community to receive code events when specific actions happen and gives mod creators the option to tag their work making it easier to find on the workshop.
This first step in exposing elements of the game for modders to use. It will give the community the foundations for creating new game modes, conversion modifications, and much more for everyone to enjoy. We have been running a closed-beta with some modding community members running up to the release of this portion of the update which has already yielded some fantastic and very creative results.
As mentioned above, mod makers can now set tags for their creations. When you go to upload your mod via the SDK you will be presented with a menu that allows you to fill out your mod's title, description and select multiple tags that best suit it. Tagging and appropriately naming your modification will make it easy for players to find and subscribe to.
Modding Community
Want to give the latest SDK update a go? Then the Holdfast official Discord server is the place to be! It is your central hub for all things Holdfast and houses a plethora of channels dedicated to event and game announcements, regiment recruitment, game support, suggestions, game modding, and more. Click below to join today!
Subscribe to the @artisan role from the #getting-started channel to get going.
https://discord.com/invite/holdfastgame
Changelog 69 - Game Version v1.18.7887.29184
New Features
● Player Map Voting! At the end of the round players will be given the option to select the next battlefield. Event hosts can make use of this function to allow players participating in their event to vote for a map of their own choosing.
» Input the following commands in the server configuration file to make use of this new functionality.
» » map_voting_enabled true
» » map_voting_duration 15
» » map_voting_allow_same_map false
» » map_voting_history_count 3
» » map_voting_gameplay_modes ArmyBattlefield ArmyBattlefield ArmyConquest ArmySiege
● Custom modded maps can also be made part of the voting selection.
● Linebattle organisers will be able to place a capturable flag that if captured will give the win to the capturing team. Can be configured to be spawned after a specific amount of time and act as an anti-camping tool during linebattle events that are taking slightly longer than desired.
» Input the following command per map rotation to configure this new function.
» » dynamic_capture_point_enabled true or false
» » dynamic_capture_point_position -11.90 6.26 -59.10
» » dynamic_capture_point_auto_active_time 120
» » dynamic_capture_point_capture_duration 360
» » dynamic_capture_point_max_capture_player_count 10
● Use the command below to force spawn the capturable flag while the match is ongoing.
» rc set triggerDynamicCapturePoint
Holdfast SDK
● Artisans may now tag their mod before uploading it to Steam providing it with better visibility.
● Exposed the ability for the modding community to receive code events when specific actions happen.
» Wiki - Script Modding Guide
● Join the Holdfast Discord and apply for the @artisan role to get started with modding.
» discord.gg/holdfastgame
Gameplay
● Explosive barrels now deal less damage to siege walls providing the defenders with a better fighting chance at holding their ground.
● Someone taking too long in the outhouse? Kick the door in style by pressing the ‘F’ key and let them know their time is up! You are unable to break doors with this method when the Army Siege or Coastal Siege is in play.
» You are unable to kick-open large double doors.
● Win condition interactable object now works in ArmyDeathmatch. Message also displays when the victor is announced.
● A smooth quick zoom animation will play when the player looks through the spyglass.
● Players equipping a ramrod will now load cannons at a faster pace. They will receive a 5% bonus increase when doing so.
Server Administration
● Players can now view the official server rules through the Round Players ‘P’ menu. Administrators can customise this message by using the following command. Use a similar syntax to that of the welcome message to format it.
» server_rules_message
● Using the serverAdmins.txt file will now enable a whitelist allowing the players inputted in this file to access administrative privileges without having to enter a password. Define the location of the serverAdmins.txt file through the following launch parameters.
» serverAdminsFilePath=
● Up to 5 administrators defined in the serverAdmins.txt file are now able to connect to a game server even if it reaches its maximum player count. This will ensure administrators are always able to oversee an event.
● Administrators are now able to revive others through the Round Players ‘P’ menu or by using an rc command.
» rc serverAdmin revive
● Administrators can now use the command below to despawn all horses from the map. You may still define to spawn just a singular horse by passing an ID.
» rc vehicleDespawn
● Administrators can now use the command below to damage a player.
» rc serverAdmin slap
● Administrators can now send a broadcast message without having it show in the middle of the screen. It will only display in the player’s chat.
» rc serverAdmin say
● Administrators may now privately message a player through the rc console instead of just the Round Players ‘P’ menu.
» rc serverAdmin privateMessage
● The characterWeaponDamageScale command now also impacts player bullets hitting other players or vehicles in addition to melee damage.
» rc set characterWeaponDamageScale
● Introduced a new command allowing players to disable the mechanic used to differentiate between upper body and lower body melee damage.
» rc set meleeLegHitSystemEnabled false
● Administrators may now define an unlimited timer in the Army Deathmatch game mode.
● Map names have been added to the scorelog.txt file.
● Introduced additional functionality for spawned ‘firearm ammo boxes’ and ‘firearm weapon boxes’ to have infinite uses when the max value is set to 255.
» Wiki - Weapon Racks
Bug Fixes
● Tentative fix on ‘Look Vector’ warnings being displayed when Marquette is in play.
● Solved an issue where the Press ‘E’ to Mount tag was shown at the 0,0,0 coordinate rather than nearby mountable horses.
● Solved an issue with warnings being thrown when a cavalry unit spawns on round start.
● Reduced instances of cavalry units being able to go through map borders.
● Solved an instance where players unintentionally faced their demise when standing on one of the house’s rooftops situated on Aspern.
● Solved an issue where text messages sometimes disappeared from chat.
● Solved an issue where sometimes cavalry units equipping a Russian piston can be seen equipped with a ramrod and sometimes not.
● Solved an issue where the incorrect trampling kill log icon was being shown.
● Replaced one of the ammo boxes on Heartmound with one which contains ammo to load swivel guns with.
● Players are no longer able to spawn on captured flag positions when the Army Conquest is in play on Aspern.
● Solved an issue where two of the mortars on Linburg were slightly angled making the trajectory deviate from their originally intended position.
● Solved an issue where the player's swimming animation on Marquette was elevated.
● Solved an issue where carriable ammo boxes placed through the SDK floated when dropped.
● Solved an issue where players spawned on trees on Marquette.
Misc.
● Introduced a tip informing players they can no longer spawn on an officer’s flag once its reinforcements deplete.
● Introduced more prop variants to the Holdfast SDK.
● Players that fall under the terrain will now face their demise after a short while.
● Reduced mod loading time.
Once again we thank you for your support and until next time, may good health be yours.
We're working on the next update. You're more than welcome to give us a follow on our new Steam developer page.
https://store.steampowered.com/developer/anvilgamestudios
- Anvil Game Studios
Refleax, Rycon, Dreas, Wrexial, Walki, Cameron, Jackson, Rejenorst, Harper & Storey